Distributed unit (DU) failover techniques for high reliability virtualized radio access network architectures

Abstract

Techniques presented herein may provide Distributed Unit (DU) failover techniques for a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) architecture. In one example, a method may include maintaining, by a management node for a vRAN, service information for a plurality of distributed unit components for the vRAN in which the service information identifies, at least in part, service characteristics and failover rules for the vRAN. The method may further include determining a failure of a particular DU component of the plurality of DU components; and reassigning one or more particular RUs currently assigned to the particular DU component to one or more other DU components based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular RUs that are re-assigned.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 maintaining, by a management node for a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN), service information for a plurality of distributed unit components for the vRAN, wherein the service information identifies, at least in part, service characteristics and failover rules for the plurality of distributed unit components in relation to a plurality of radio units for the vRAN, wherein the service characteristics are based on service measurements performed for the plurality of distributed unit components and the plurality of radio units for the vRAN and the service measurements comprise a current radio unit capacity and a current traffic usage for each of the plurality of distributed unit components, a current latency for each of one or more radio units assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components, and a current latency for each of one or more other radio units that are not assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components; 
 determining a failure of a particular distributed unit component of the plurality of distributed unit components, wherein one or more particular radio units are assigned to the particular distributed unit component prior to the failure; and 
 causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned to one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular radio units that are re-assigned. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particular failover rules identify, at least in part, the one or more other distributed unit components to which the one or more particular radio units are to be reassigned. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service information further identifies slice considerations indicating an order for reassigning the one or more particular radio units to the one or more other distributed unit components. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned includes the management node notifying a central unit component and the one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components regarding reassignment of the one or more particular radio units to the one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 utilizing a cell identifier of the particular distributed unit component for broadcasts associated with at least one radio unit of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned to at least one distributed unit component of the one or more other distributed unit components. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 utilizing a current cell identifier of at least one distributed unit component of the one or more other distributed unit components for broadcasts associated with at least one radio unit of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned to the at least one distributed unit component. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned to the one or more other distributed unit components includes configuring a backup distributed unit component connection for each of the one or more particular radio units that are assigned to the particular distributed unit component before it has failed and wherein each backup distributed unit component connection is configured based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and the particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining updated service characteristics for the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed; and 
 load balancing one or more of the plurality of radio units among the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed. 
 
     
     
       9. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:
 maintaining, by a management node for a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN), service information for a plurality of distributed unit components for the vRAN, wherein the service information identifies, at least in part, service characteristics and failover rules for the plurality of distributed unit components in relation to a plurality of radio units for the vRAN, wherein the service characteristics are based on service measurements performed for the plurality of distributed unit components and the plurality of radio units for the vRAN and the service measurements comprise a current radio unit capacity and a current traffic usage for each of the plurality of distributed unit components, a current latency for each of one or more radio units assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components, and a current latency for each of one or more other radio units that are not assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components; 
 determining a failure of a particular distributed unit component of the plurality of distributed unit components, wherein one or more particular radio units are assigned to the particular distributed unit component prior to the failure; and 
 causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned to one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular radio units that are re-assigned. 
 
     
     
       10. The media of  claim 9 , wherein the particular failover rules identify, at least in part, the one or more other distributed unit components to which the one or more particular radio units are to be reassigned. 
     
     
       11. The media of  claim 9 , wherein the service information further identifies slice considerations indicating an order for reassigning the one or more particular radio units to the one or more other distributed unit components. 
     
     
       12. The media of  claim 9 , wherein instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations, comprising:
 determining updated service characteristics for the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed; and 
 load balancing one or more of the plurality of radio units among the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed. 
 
     
     
       13. A system comprising:
 at least one memory element for storing data; and 
 at least one processor for executing instructions associated with the data, wherein executing the instructions causes the system to perform operations, comprising:
 maintaining, by a management node for a virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN), service information for a plurality of distributed unit components for the vRAN, wherein the service information identifies, at least in part, service characteristics and failover rules for the plurality of distributed unit components in relation to a plurality of radio units for the vRAN, wherein the service characteristics are based on service measurements performed for the plurality of distributed unit components and the plurality of radio units for the vRAN and the service measurements comprise a current radio unit capacity and a current traffic usage for each of the plurality of distributed unit components, a current latency for each of one or more radio units assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components, and a current latency for each of one or more other radio units that are not assigned to each of the plurality of distributed unit components; 
 determining a failure of a particular distributed unit component of the plurality of distributed unit components, wherein one or more particular radio units are assigned to the particular distributed unit component prior to the failure; and 
 causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned to one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular radio units that are re-assigned. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the particular failover rules identify, at least in part, the one or more other distributed unit components to which the one or more particular radio units are to be reassigned. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the service information further identifies slice considerations indicating an order for reassigning the one or more particular radio units to the one or more other distributed unit components. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned includes the management node notifying a central unit component and the one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components regarding reassignment of the one or more particular radio units to the one or more other distributed unit components of the plurality of distributed unit components. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , wherein executing the instructions causes the system to perform further operations, comprising:
 utilizing a cell identifier of the particular distributed unit component for broadcasts associated with at least one radio unit of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned to at least one distributed unit component of the one or more other distributed unit components. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein executing the instructions causes the system to perform further operations, comprising:
 utilizing a current cell identifier of at least one distributed unit component of the one or more other distributed unit components for broadcasts associated with at least one radio unit of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned to the at least one distributed unit component. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein causing the one or more particular radio units to be reassigned to the one or more other distributed unit components includes configuring a backup distributed unit component connection for each of the one or more particular radio units that are assigned to the particular distributed unit component before it has failed and wherein each backup distributed unit component connection is configured based on the service characteristics maintained in the service information and the particular failover rules identified in the service information that are associated with each of the one or more particular radio units that are reassigned. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 13 , wherein executing the instructions causes the system to perform further operations, comprising:
 determining updated service characteristics for the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed; and 
 load balancing one or more of the plurality of radio units among the plurality of distributed unit components that have not failed.